I. Love. Australia.

thedailywhat:

Occupy Melbourne News Update of the Day: Though Occupy protesters in Melbourne were able to successfully skirt the city’s anti-Occupy ban on camping by wearing their tents, the clever subterfuge was short-lived.

This morning, police told protesters they could no longer walk around Flagstaff Gardens dressed as tents, and would be given “reasonable time” to put on clothes before police would be forced to take action.

In recently uploaded video (above), officers can be seen tearing apart one protester’s tent-garment, leaving the woman — identified only as “Sarah” — with only her underclothes.

Police said three “Tent Monsters” co-operated, but Sarah “refused to comply with direction.” The 20-year-old was reportedly feeling “extremely distressed” following the incident, and has filed a complaint with the Victoria Police Ethical Standards Department.

“The Ethical Standards Department has subsequently received a physical assault complaint in relation to this incident and is investigating,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. “As this investigation is ongoing we will not be commenting further.”

[heraldsun / blogpost.]